Etihad Airways builds on partnership with Born Free and revamps popular child packs

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Etihad Airways is reinforcing its partnership with leading wildlife charity, Born Free, by refreshing its popular ‘Etihad Explorers’ children’s packs, which now include an activity booklet developed with Born Free. The aim is to provide the airline’s younger guests with a greater understanding of animal welfare and how they can play a part in reducing man’s impact on fragile natural habitats, wildlife conservation and wild animal welfare.

First launched in September
2016, Etihad Explorers is the airline’s children’s brand, featured on activity
packs and meal items. It aims to instill a sense of excitement and anticipation
during their journey.

Jamal Ahmed Al Awadhi,
Etihad Airways Head of Guest Experience, said: “Our young guests are
tremendously important to us and we continuously strive to find more
informative, fun and engaging ways to entertain them during their time with us.

“The refreshed packs are
also a way of forming a lasting bond between them and Etihad Airways, making
them more aware of who we are and where we fly to and, with the support of Born
Free, enhancing their knowledge of important issues facing the planet. We have
some exciting developments coming up in this regard.”

Born Free has supported Etihad
Airways in the development of its comprehensive animal welfare and conservation
policy and with various employee awareness-raising activities, promoting the
importance of animal welfare and responsible tourism. The airline has supported
Born Free in the highly successful promotion of the Elsa the Lioness bracelet in
its inflight shopping catalogue.

Will Travers OBE, President & Co-Founder
of Born Free,
said: “Etihad Airways is an important global partner in promoting wild animal welfare
and connecting people with the urgent need to protect animals and their
habitats all over the planet. Together we can help educate future generations
so they can help deliver our vision of compassionate conservation for all
species.”

Milk Jnr’s & Kidworks, a
Manchester headquartered agency specialising in engaging kid’s activity packs
for some of the world’s biggest family brands, has revamped the Etihad Explorers
packs including changing the lead characters in the three to eight-year-old packs.
Jamool the Camel and Boo the Panda now take over from Kundai the Lion and Zoe
the Bee.

On inbound flights to Abu
Dhabi, the collectable character bag contains the activity booklet, crayons,
card games and a colour-in mask. The pack on flights from Abu Dhabi includes a
unique suitcase board game which allows parents and children to play together,
a foam version of Boo the Panda, colour-in postcards, crayons, and a handy
waterproof travel wallet.

For nine to 13-year old
children, a refreshed and more mature seascape-themed pack is now provided and
includes Sudoku, mazes, lined notes and join-the-dot games. These packs also
contain a pencil case, pencil, a dual-function bookmark and ruler, and a
notepad.

Other onboard facilities for
young travellers and their families include the dedicated ‘Just 4 Kids’ section
on the Etihad Airways E-BOX inflight entertainment system, and a Flying Nanny
on all long-haul flights. Flying Nannies were introduced in 2013 and provide an
extra pair of hands to allow parents more personal time while they entertain
the children.

Etihad Airways commitment
to the protection and preservation of wildlife

Etihad Airways remains committed
to the protection and preservation of wildlife and is one
of the signatories to the Declaration of the United for Wildlife International
Taskforce on the Transportation of Illegal Wildlife Products, signed at
Buckingham Palace in March 2016. The
comprehensive Animal Welfare and Conservation Policy incorporates a strong
commitment to wildlife conservation. This was drafted in collaboration
with Born Free, which provided advice on specific actions for the airline.
Going beyond legal requirements, it includes strict cargo protocols to prevent
the carriage of endangered and threatened species, hunting trophies containing
any animal parts, shark fins and live animals intended for use in scientific
research.

Etihad Airways works closely
with Born Free to review all holiday activities which involve interaction with
animals to ensure that best practices are being followed.